Freezing Regulations, Attorney General Prospects and Bailing Out Detroit

President Elect Obama meets with his team of economic advisors.

Controversial law professor Charles Ogletree is mentioned as a possible nominee for Attorney General.  

Detroit’s big three automakers lobby for billions in taxpayer bailout benefits.

More headlines: listen to the LibertyWeek podcast.

1. POLITICS

President Elect Obama meets with his team of economic advisors.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on how the Obama Administration can help reduce the government’s burden on Americans:

“Upon raising his hand from the Bible after taking the Oath of Office, President Obama should declare a one year freeze on all new government regulations; he’d naturally exempt those he regards as addressing immediate threats to public health and safety. The point is, during that freeze, the President should clarify an intention to review all regulations on the books, and streamline and control the $1 trillion regulatory state. His transition handlers have announced a desire to employ Executive Orders; he could use that power to liberalize, not add to burdens to a limping economy.”

 

2. LEGAL

Controversial law professor Charles Ogletree is mentioned as a possible nominee for Attorney General.  

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Baderquestionable theories: on Ogletree’s

“…it seems that I understated Ogletree’s links to Obama and possible role in the Obama Administration. As legal commentator Walter Olson notes, Ogletree is now being described as a possible Attorney General — not just Assistant Attorney General — by CBS News and Newsweek. Moreover, Newsweek describes Ogletree as Obama’s ‘top criminal-justice adviser,’ not just his adviser on race issues. (Neither CBS nor Newsweek discusses Ogletree’s well-documented controversial positions, such as claiming that Obama’s election was only possible because he is part white, and his long-time advocacy of race-based reparations.)”

 

3. BUSINESS

Detroit’s big three automakers lobby for billions in taxpayer bailout benefits.        

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Editorial Director Ivan Osorio on one of the reasons the car companies are hemorrhaging cash:

“…decades of extremely generous union contracts have yielded huge liabilities in what have become known as ‘legacy costs,’ which include such things as pensions and retiree health insurance. In recent years, these legacy costs have become an enormous burden on GM, Ford and Chrysler, who face increased competition from foreign automakers, most of whom have lower labor costs thanks to much lower levels of unionization. One particularly lavish benefit is the United Auto Workers’ employer-funded ‘Jobs Bank,’ which pays laid-off auto workers get paid their full salary for not working.”

 

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